Brandon Correa and Tim Apger still together in Afghanistan 2011.07.13

Brandon Correa and Tim Apger were in this thing from the start, and now, four years later in Afghanistan, there’re still together.

The two made plans to join the Army National Guard when they were still in high school. It was an easy decision.

“I joined the Army National Guard when I was a senior in high school to pay for college expenses,” Correa said. “I chose the Army National Guard because I wanted to attend school and be a civilian while also performing duties as a soldier. If I would’ve gone Active Duty, I would have been away from my family and would not have the chance to take college courses and fulfill civilian life goals.”

He took some classes at Eastern Michigan University before reaching the next stage of his Army life.

Apger remembers his enlistment date: July 11, 2007, between his junior and senior year, and he, also, was looking for financial help with school.

After high school, both completed basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., for five months and were later assigned to the 1776th MP CO out of Taylor, Mich. Their training was for military police work.

After drilling with the Guard unit, orders for active duty arrived in 2010 and both men received mobilization training at Ft. Bliss, Texas, to prepare for assignment in Afghanistan.

That came as no surprise.

“When enlisting I knew 100 percent that I would be deployed,” Apger said. “That’s was the risk of becoming an MP, but that didn’t bother me. It was something I wanted and knew that it would look good on a résumé.”

Now, thousands of miles from home, the two buddies are still in the same company, although serving in different platoons. And they still see one another often.

“For two years we thought the deployment to come was going to consist of convoy security and PTT (police training team),” Apger said. “Now here I am working at the DFIP (detention facility in Parwin).“

His main missions are custody and control of detained personal and to train the Afghan National Army.

He also had the excitement of working with a group of marines on a large escort mission.

Correa has different duties.

“My duties consist of providing security in the northeastern region of Afghanistan,” he explained. “My work day consists of a 12-hour shift, six days a week with varying duties. Some of the positions include guarding a detention facility and QRF (Quick Reaction Force) which is a first response team dedicated to outer perimeter security and counter enemy assault.”

Both expect to return home in October to resume civilian life, along with completing a six-year obligation to the military that will end in December 2013. Neither expects to re-enlist.

“I have accumulated skills and training that will help me in my future profession,” Correa said. “Being a military police has greatly advanced my knowledge with both corrections and police work that I plan on using in my career as a police officer.”

The decision they made back in high school still stands as a good one.

“I am glad that I made the choice to join the Army National Guard,” Correa said. “I’ve come across many opportunities that I would not have received otherwise. I have gained a lot of knowledge and skills and have been many places being a soldier in the Army.”

GAMES DAY—Finn Molitierno (right) celebrates a goal during a game of Nok Hockey with his sister, Kyla. The two tried out a variety of games Saturday at Stair District Library’s annual International Games Day event. One of the activities featured a sort of scavenger hunt in which participants had to locate facts presented in the Smithsonian Hometown Teams exhibit. The traveling show left Morenci’s library Tuesday, wrapping up a series of programs that began Oct. 2. Additional photos are on page 7.

STRANGE STUFF—Morenci Elementary School students learn that blue isn’t really blue when seen through the right color of lens. Volunteer April Pike presents the lesson to students at one of the many stations brought to the school by the COSI science center. The theme of this year’s visit was the solar system.

MAPLE leaves show their fall colors in a puddle at Morenci’s Riverside Natural Area. “This was a great year for colors,” said local weather watcher George Isobar. Chilly mornings will give way to seasonable fall temperatures for the next two weeks.

MORENCI Marching Band member Brittany Dennis keeps the beat Friday during the half-time show of the Morenci/Pittsford football game. Color guard member Jordan Cordts is at the left. The band performed this season under the direction of Doyle Rodenbeck who served as Morenci’s band director in the 1970s. He’s serving as a substitute during a family leave.

MOVING EAST—Utility workers continue their slow progress east along U.S. 20 south of Morenci. New electrical poles are put in place before wiring is moved into place.

A PERFORMER named Biligbaatar, a member of the AnDa Union troupe from Inner Mongolia, dances at Stair District Library last week during a visit to the Midwest. The nine-member group blends a variety of traditions from Inner and Outer Mongolia. The music is described as drawing from “all the Mongol tribes that Genghis Khan unified.” The group considers itself music gatherers whose goal is to preserve traditional sounds of Mongolia. Biligbaatar grew up among traditional herders who live in yurts. Additional photos are on the back page of this week’s Observer.

HOLDEN HUTCHISON gives a hug to a black bear cub—the product of a taxidermist’s skills—at the Michigan DNR’s Great Youth Jamboree. The event on Sunday marked the fourth year of the Jamboree. Additional photos are on page 12.